Organization announces plans for performing arts center in Bonita

The first performing arts center in Bonita Springs is one step closer to reality.

The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs announced Friday it will establish a 28,000-square-foot performing arts center campus on Bonita Beach Road early next year.

“When they say dreams come to reality, this really is one of those cases,” said Susan Bridges, president of the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs.

It signed a contract June 6 to purchase the Living Waters Community Church property, 27911 Vermont St., and the deal is set to close February 2014. A grand opening is scheduled for the end of March 2014.

“We’re very fortunate that this fell from the sky and they placed it on the market at the point in time when we were looking at what our options were,” Bridges said.

She said the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs will keep its current 10-acre campus on Old U.S. 41 and use it to host visual arts programs.

The new performing arts center will offer a 400-seat performance space. Plans also include dedicated studios for dance, music and theater programs, a film center for growing a year-long foreign and documentary film series and dedicated studio classroom for multi-day famous artist workshops in visual arts.

“Each organization carves up its own niche,” Bridges said. “Our goal is not to be Barbara B. Mann (Performing Arts Hall).”

The Center for the Arts has already raised $2.3 million of the $3.3 million capital improvement sum it seeks to purchase and renovate the property.

And Bridges is confident the community will help reach the fundraising goal.

“We are hoping the people in the public will step up and stand next to us,” she said. “I think people are going to love going to that space.”